After graduating with a geology degree from Carleton University and taking a detour through the high tech business, Thom started his journalism career as a fact-checker for a magazine in Ottawa in 2002. He quickly progressed to writing features for various publications, but when he landed his first newspaper job with The Interior News in 2005, he knew he had found his calling. He is the winner of numerous journalism awards, perhaps most notable the 2008 CCNA Best Feature Story award for his coverage of the in-custody death of Ian Bush and subsequent coroner's inquest. Thom believes strongly in the value of community news, particularly in the digital era, and is thrilled to be back in Smithers where his newspaper journey began.